Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-02-11

recognized as Mrs. Hardy.
..Who is itp'' I asked.
..It's Mrs. Hardy, sir;;'' she replied.
"Oh, please, sir, would you be so good
as to come andspeak to me minuteP"
.What do you want with mep' l
asked, approaching the gate. #
ooh, sir!" she began at once, ''can
you tell me anything about my hus-
bandP" " -. I'd ...-
Was it a trapp Anywhere else the
notion would have been outrageous,
but here did not feel sure that even
the widow might not be in. a league
with the slayers of the husband to en-
trap me into a confession which might
be for the safety of all.
..How should know anything about
your husband, Mrs. Hardyp What
about himp"
"Oh, SIR" she began, "he's gone
away without saying anything to me,
except a message by Miss Beaufoy that
he was off sudden to Germany on bust
ness of DR.. Plowitz's. Oh, sir, it amt
like him, and I can't believe it, and I
believe there's something wrong about
it,"
And here the woman, whose apron
had been hopping the large tears
which gathered at the end of her nose,
fairly broke down. and buried her face
in the apron, showing ner coarse arms
and red elbows-a pitlful sight as they
jerked with the violence of her sobs.
"Mrs. Hardy" I said, suppose I
could tell you anything, what would
you tell me in returnp"
"What could you tell mep" she ask
ed in tone of anguish. Il don't
trust them. Nobody's safe here! What
have they done with Hardyp"
.Listen to me. Whatever they have
done to your husband, no good can
come of letting them know that you
suspect it."
"Then they have harmed himP"
II fear they have. will soy no
more, unless you promise to be calm
and help me-"
"Look here, SIR" she said, suddenly
stopping her grief, and looking at me
with a dangerous and resolute face,
'.you tell me what you know,-I can
see you know-and III tell you what I
know, and I'll help you too. And
you'll want help"
els anybody aboutP' I asked. :
"No one won't be back for good
hour yet," she said. Il know where
they've gone to-"
| She took me through the inner gar
den into a sort of scullery, whence l
could get egress to the hall without
much risk, in case of need. And then
told her as briefly as I could the cir
cumstances that led to my being in the
corridor, and the tragedy that I had
witnessed.
Mrs. Hardy did not give way to the
violent demonstrations of grief that I
had feared. She was evidently in
some mysterious way prepared for the
worst. Her one thought now seemed
to be revenge.
"Now, Mrs. Hardy" I said, ''you
know what my interests are here.
How can l save Miss Fortcscue. and
what is the motive of their keeping
her hidden away like this?''
Then she gave me her version of the
story, which seemed very likely to be
the true one.
"They have spent her money-that's
what they've done," said she. "And
they don't want her to get out so as
no one shouldn't put it into her head
to stand up for herself, and ask ques-
TONS"
Then what is DR.. Plowitz's inter-
est in marrying her?''
"'Cause he fancies her. If he gets
her he can keep her mouth Shut
"But if he marry her, whaS can pre-
vent his turning round and demanding
an account of her fortune from her
guardian?''
"He demand! They're all in the
same boat
"What do you mean?'
They're all in the same line of bus
mess; and my poor man was in it toe"
"What is itP''
''Making money"
"Counterfeit coinp'
"No, not azackly. It's very good
coin; almost as good as the real thing
Before our interview terminated I
had impressed on Mrs. Hardy the ne
cessity for the utmost prudence, and
had secured her promise to assist me in
etfecting the rescue of Mary. Before
that could be done I must secure an
ally outside. Then suddenly I thought
of DR.. Shaw. The very man! would
write to him and consult him, and get
! Mrs. Hardy to post the letter.
An alarm of the return of some of
the absentees brought our interview to
hurried conclusion. felt now like
new man. With a friend in the
enemy's camp my worst fears were
allayed. 1 must, however get some
writing materials, and communicate
with Shaw at once. dressed for din
ner early that evening, and determined
to secrete some pens and paper from
the draw1ng-room rs soon as Mrs.
Beaufoy had :r',s:<, up to dress.
The molur' arrived, and was alone
for at least half an hour. A small
writing-table, with all appliances, stood
against the wall. sat down and be-
gan hastily to write. 1t would not do.